Despite having a U-lock and being parked in a highly visible spot on Abercorn Street, my first Savannah bicycle was stolen.

I then bought an old cruiser for about $40, less than I paid for a new lock.

Over five years ago, I upgraded to a hefty Specialized bike. Some laugh about its sheer height and weight, but it’s perfect for lumbering along cobblestoned streets.

My seat was stolen once, post and all. Now I have an additional lock on that.

One night when I parked downtown, I forgot to remove my small detachable headlight. It was gone when I returned a couple of hours later.

So I bought another.

And those are typical downsides of being a regular bicycle rider in Savannah.

All told, I’ve probably spent around $600 on bikes, repairs and accessories.

But in the years I’ve been riding my bike in the greater downtown area, I’ve probably saved about $2,000 in gas. And I’ve spared the City Talk van a lot of wear and tear in the process.

And there are other practical advantages to riding a bike downtown. First and foremost, I know exactly how long it will take me to get somewhere.

Sure, there’s always the hazard of being delayed when I run into friends on the street — hardly a hazard.

If I’m late, then it’s my own fault, and I know that I won’t have to be stressfully trolling block after block in search of parking.

I was thinking about some of these issues on Saturday morning when I was one of a scant few who rode a bike to the Armstrong Atlantic State University graduation at the Civic Center.

For the vast majority of attendees, riding a bike wouldn’t even have been an option, especially on a blustery, rainy morning.

But after years of relying on a bike for short trips, I’ve learned the tricks for staying dry enough.

All in all, the savings in time and money over the years have more than made up for the various hassles.

That’s only part of the story, however.

After Saturday’s graduation, headed south on Barnard Street, I crossed Liberty Street and was suddenly confronted with the lush beauty of Pulaski Square, one of downtown Savannah’s least visited but most beautiful public spaces.

I’ve seen that square a thousand times, but it’s still stunning.

The same view through a car windshield is beautiful too, but it’s just not the same.